Applied Hydrology

CV5041
Water Apportionment Accord .

Submission date: September 17, 2021

 Prepared By

SYED MUNEEB HAIDER 21L-7054

Resource Person
Dr.Shahid Ali
Professor
Civil Engineering Department
National university of computer and emerging sciences
Lahore
 Irrigation system and its components in context of IBIS

Irrigation
Artificial application of water to the soil through manually or mechanically managed system for
the purpose to;

 Supply moisture essential for plant growth.

 Encourage plant root development.
 Cool the soil and atmosphere.
 Create favourable condition for plant growth.
 Transport nutrients from soil to plant.

It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscape and

revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall.
Additionally, irrigation also has a few other uses in crop production, which include protecting
plants against frost, suppressing weed growth in grain fields and preventing soil consolidation. In
contrast, agriculture that relies only on direct rainfall is referred to as rain-fed or dry land
farming.
Objectives of Irrigation
Following are some objectives of irrigation;

 To Supply Water Partially or Totally for Crop Need.

 To Cool both the Soil and the Plant.
 To Leach Excess Salts.
 To improve Groundwater storage.
 To Facilitate continuous cropping.
 To Enhance Fertilizer Application- Fertigation.

Water Resources for Irrigation

Following are the water resources for irrigation

1. Surface Water.
2. Rainfall/Precipitation.
3. Groundwater

Surface water is diverted to the fields by the use of rivers, canals, channels etc.
Rainfall/Precipitation may directly fall into the fields; groundwater is abstracted from soil and
diverted to the fields.

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 History of Irrigation in World
History of irrigation in the world is very old. Archaeological investigation has identified
evidence of irrigation where the natural rainfall was insufficient to support crops. Perennial
irrigation was practiced in the Mesopotamian plain whereby crops were regularly watered
throughout the growing season by coaxing water through a matrix of small channels formed in
the field.
 Ancient Egyptians
Ancient Egyptians practiced Basin irrigation using the flooding of the Nile to inundate land plots
which had been surrounded by dykes. The flood water was held until the fertile sediment had
settled before the surplus was returned to the watercourse. There is evidence of the ancient
Egyptian pharaoh Amenemhet III in the twelfth dynasty (about 1800 BCE) using the natural lake
of the Faiyum Oasis as a reservoir to store surpluses of water for use during the dry seasons, the
lake swelled annually from flooding of the Nile, (Wikipedia).
 The Ancient Nubians
The Ancient Nubians developed a form of irrigation by using a waterwheel-like device called a
sakia. Irrigation began in Nubia sometime between the third and second millennium BCE. It
largely depended upon the flood waters that would flow through the Nile River and other rivers
in what is now the Sudan, (Wikipedia).
In sub-Saharan
 Africa irrigation reached the Niger River region cultures and civilizations by the first or
second millennium BCE and was based on wet season flooding and water harvesting,
(Wikipedia).
 Terrace irrigation is evidenced in pre-Columbian America, early Syria, India, and China.
In the Zana Valley of the Andes Mountains in Peru, archaeologists found remains of
three irrigation canals radiocarbon dated from the 4th millennium BCE, the 3rd
millennium BCE and the 9th century CE. These canals are the earliest record of irrigation
in the New World. Traces of a canal possibly dating from the 5th millennium BCE were
found under the 4th millennium canal. Sophisticated irrigation and storage systems were
developed by the Indus Valley Civilization in present-day Pakistan and North India,
including the reservoirs at Girnar in 3000 BCE and an early canal irrigation system from
circa 2600 BCE. Large scale agriculture was practiced and an extensive network of
canals was used for the purpose of irrigation, (Wikipedia).
 Ancient Persia (modern day Iran) as far back as the 6th millennium BCE, where barley
was grown in areas where the natural rainfall was insufficient to support such a crop. The
Qanats, developed in ancient Persia in about 800 BCE, are among the oldest known
irrigation methods still in use today. They are now found in Asia, the Middle East and
North Africa. The system comprises a network of vertical wells and gently sloping

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 tunnels driven into the sides of cliffs and steep hills to tap groundwater. The noria, a
water wheel with clay pots around the rim powered by the flow of the stream (or by
animals where the water source was. still), was first brought into use at about this time,
by Roman settlers in North Africa. By 150 BCE the pots were fitted with valves to allow
smoother filling as they were forced into the water.
 The irrigation works of ancient Sri Lanka, the earliest dating from about 300 BCE, in the
reign of King Pandukabhaya and under continuous development for the next thousand
years, were one of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. In addition
to underground canals, the Sinhalese were the first to build completely artificial
reservoirs to store water. Due to their engineering superiority in this sector, they were
often called ―masters of irrigation‖. Most of these irrigation systems still exist
undamaged up to now, in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, because of the advanced and
precise engineering. The system was extensively restored and further extended during the
reign of King Parakrama Bahu (1153–1186 CE), (Wikipedia).

Following are some historical facts about irrigation;

 Joseph Canal (1900 B.C).

 Greatest system inherited by Ramses II.
 World ‘s oldest Dam (3100 B.C).
 Alhazen (Aswin Dam).
 Community of Saba (Marib Dam).
 Kanates/Karez in Baluchistan.
 Irrigation in China (Tu-kiang Dam).
 Western Jamuna Canal systems.

History of Irrigation in Sub-Continent

In the recorded history of Sub-Continent, practices of irrigation can be found back to the 8th
century when Muslim rulers differentiated between irrigated and un-irrigated land for the
purpose of levying tax. There is evidence that irrigation has been practiced in the Sub-Continent
along the Indus system of rivers from 3000 B.C. In the beginning, only the narrow strips of land
along the river banks were irrigated, but with time, irrigation was extended to other nearby areas
by breaching the banks or the natural levies of the rivers to bring water to the low-lying fields.
This was done only during high water periods.
 The first canal
The first canal was constructed some five or six centuries ago and extended under the
Mughal Emperors. The early canals were inundation channels and delivered water to the
fields when rivers were in high flow during the summer. They tended to be unpredictable in
operation and subjected both to frequent breaches and serious siltation problems. The next
stage in the evaluation of the Irrigation System was construction of perennial canals having

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 permanent headworks. These headworks either did not extend across the entire stream or
allowed the floods to pass over their crests. The first evidence of perennial irrigation on any
of the Indus rivers dates back to early seventeenth century when a 80 Km long canal was
constructed by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir (reigned 1605-27) to bring water from the right
bank of the Ravi to the pleasure gardens of Sheikhupura.

 The present elaborate system of the Western Jamuna canal is believed to have been based
on a system initiated by Feroze Shah Tughlaq. Hasli canal leading off the Ravi which
forms the nucleus of Upper Bari Doab canal was constructed by Ali Mardan Khan, an
engineer and governor of Punjab.

 Upper Bari Doab canal

Upper Bari Doab canal at Madhopur headwork was constructed in 1858 and started irrigation
about one million acres of land between the Ravi and Bias Rivers with the water from Ravi‖
(Biswas, 1992pp.202). In the middle of the 19th century when British took control there were
only a few inundation canals in Sub-Continent. By the end of 19th century a number of separate
inundation systems were developed for each river. At the end of 19th century efforts were also
made to construct a weir-controlled irrigation system. The inundation systems were merged with
various perennial irrigation schemes when they were completed.

Continent wise Irrigated Areas (Million Acres)

Irrigation in Pakistan
The irrigation system of Pakistan is the largest integrated irrigation network in the world serving
approximately 18 million ha of cultivated land. There are 3 major storage reservoirs, 19 barrages,
12 inter-river link canals, 45 independent irrigation canal commands and over 140,000
watercourses. The water of the Indus River and its principal tributaries (the Kabul, the Swat, and
Kunar from the West, and the Jhelum, the Chenab, from the East) feed the system. The concept
of participation of a farming community in irrigated agriculture in Indo-Pak subcontinent is not
new as it has been practiced since time immemorial (Gill 1998). The civil canals in the North
West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan are an example of Participatory Irrigation
Management (PIM) and these have been constructed, operated and maintained by the
stakeholders since long (1568-1800). Irrigation development in Pakistan started on a technical

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foundation in the latter part of 19 century with major objectives to reduce the risk of famine and
maintain political and social stability (Stone 1984).
Irrigation System
The irrigation system was designed with an objective to optimize the production per unit of
available water, ensuring equitable distribution between canals, branches and also among the off
takes (outlets). The duty (area irrigated by unit discharge during the base period) was fixed
relatively high in order to irrigate more land with low cropping intensities. Another design
objective was to keep the administrative and operational requirements and cost as low as possible
and therefore the number of control structures in the canals was kept to a minimum. The
irrigation intensity was also kept low at an average of 75 percent. This design practice is known
as protective irrigation (Jurriens 1993, Jurriens et al. 1996).
Components of Irrigation System
Following are the components of an irrigation system,

 Watershed
 River
 Dam
 Barrage
 Canals (Link, Main, Branch, Major and Minor)
 Watercourse

Components of Irrigation System

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Watershed receive rainfall and contributes to the formation of river, dams and barrages are
storage structures and rise the head of water, link canals deliver water from one river to another
river, main canal takes its supply from river and water of main canal is used for irrigation
through branch, major, minor and watercourse. In next pages we will discuss these components
of an irrigation system one by one.

Indus Basin Irrigation System

Introduction
Pakistan ‘s Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) is the strong heart of the country’s economy. Its
creation is a tribute to the British irrigation engineers who created the original system (1847-
1947) that Pakistan inherited in 1947 and to the Pakistani irrigation engineers and institutions
(particularly the Water and Power Development Authority [WAPDA] and the provincial
irrigation departments) who have spent the last 60 years adding new dams and barrages, building
new link and branch canals, and modernizing and maintaining the world‘s most complex and
extensive irrigation system. From the 1950s onward, the IBIS has also been the product of the
generosity and intellectual input of a host of international experts and international institutions,
particularly the World Bank (Shahid, 2009).
The Indus River rises in the Tibetan plateau in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar. It flows in Tibet
for about 200 miles before it enters Ladakh, (part of Kashmir under Indian control) and then
flows on towards Gilgit in Pakistan. Flowing through the North in a southerly direction along the
entire length of Pakistan, it falls into the Arabian Sea near Pakistan’s port city of Karachi. With a
total length of 3,200 km (1,988 miles), the river’s estimated annual flow is approximately 207
billion m3. The Indus River feeds ecosystems of temperate forests, plains and arid countryside.
Its five major tributaries are the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej (also
having origin in Tibetan plateau). Another two tributaries of the Indus, the Kabul and the
Kurram, rise in Afghanistan. Most of the Indus basin lies in Pakistan and India, with about 13 per
cent of the total catchment area of the basin situated in Tibet and Afghanistan. The Indus
drainage basin area is shared by Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China.

International River Basin registers

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The Indus River system is the largest contiguous irrigation system in the world with a command
area of 20 million hectares and an annual irrigation capacity of over 12 million hectares.
Irrigation in the Indus River basin dates back centuries; by the late 1940s the irrigation works
along the river were the most extensive in the world. These irrigation projects had been
developed over the years under one political authority that of British India, and any water
conflict could be resolved by executive order. The Government of India Act of 1935, however,
put water under provincial jurisdiction, and some disputes did begin to crop up at the sites of the
more extensive works, notably between the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
Salient Features of IBIS
Pakistan, with a Geographical area of 796,095 square kilometres, possesses large rivers, like
Indus which, along with its 5 tributaries, namely Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Kabul and Sutlej, forms
one of the mightiest River-Systems of the world. The River-System comprises 2 storage
reservoirs, 19 large rivers Headworks, 45 Canal Systems measuring 58,000 kilometres, some 1.6
million kilometres of water-courses and field Irrigation Channels. Pakistan has big rivers like
Indus, Chenab, Ravi, Jhelum and Sutlej, where discharges in summer season vary from 100
thousand Cusecs to 1,200 thousand Cusecs (3 thousand to 34 thousand comics) and can cause
tremendous loss to human lives, crops and property. Due to limited capacity of storage at Tarbela
and Mangla Dams on river Indus and Jhelum, with virtually no control on Chenab, Ravi and
Sutlej, devastating problems are faced between July and October in the event of excessive
rainfall in the catchments.
The Irrigation system of Pakistan is the largest integrated irrigation network in the world, serving
almost 18 million ha of contiguous cultivated land. The system is fed by the waters of the Indus
River and its tributaries. The salient features of the system are three major storage reservoirs,
namely, Tarbela and Chashma on River Indus, and Mangla on River Jhelum, with a present live-
storage of about 15.4 BM3 (12.5 MAF), 19 barrages; 12 inter-river link canals and 45
independent irrigation canal commands. The total length of main canals alone is 58,500 Km.
Water courses comprise another 1,621,000 Kms. Indus Basin Irrigation System is the largest
irrigation network of the world. Salient Features of the system are given below

 Pakistan’s Indus River Basin System comprises five main rivers, namely the Indus,
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej.
 IBIS is also aided by a number of smaller rivers (Kabul, Swat, Haro, Kunhar, Chitral,
Tochi, Shah Alam, Naguman, Adezai, Soan etc.) and streams/Nullahs, these five rivers
supply water to the entire Indus Basin Irrigation System.
 These rivers have their origin in the higher altitudes and derive their flows mainly from
snow-melt and monsoon rains.
 Catchment area of Indus is most unique in the sense that it contains seven (7) of the
world’s highest peaks after Mount Everest. Among these include the K2 (28,253 ft.),
Nanga Parbat (26,600 ft.), Rakaposhi (25,552 ft.) etc.
 Further to above, seven (7) glaciers situated in the Indus catchment are among the largest
in the world, namely, Siachin, Hispar, Biafo, Baltura, Baltoro, Barpu and Hopper

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 Rivers of Pakistan

Salient Features of Main Rivers

Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus are the main rivers of Pakistan. Following are the main
features of these rivers

 Sutlej River

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 Ravi River

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 Schematic Diagram of Ravi River Basin

 Chenab River

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 Schematic Diagram of Chenab River Basin

 Jhelum River

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 Indus River

Schematic Diagram of Indus River Basin

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 Schematic Diagram of Indus Basin Irrigation System

Disputes on Indus River Water

There was no question over water sharing in Sub-Continent till early 20th century. However, the
situation changed after World War-I. There were several new projects like Thal, Haveli, Bhakra
Dam and Sutlej Valley canals in Punjab and Sukkar Barrage in Sindh were proposed. It was first
time in the history that some regions particularly Sindh as lower riparian, felt that their river
rights were threatened (Malik, 2011).The dispute of Indus Waters sharing began long before the

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partition of India and Pakistan in the form of interstate differences between the Punjab, Sindh,
Bahawalpur, and Bikaner(Michal,1967).
Government of India acted as neutral third party and facilitated through negotiations.
Independent commissions were appointed to arbitrate in case of negotiation failure. ―The
situation was serious when Upper Bari Doab Canal was completed in 1858 and started irrigation
about one million acres of land between the Ravi and Bias Rivers with the water from Ravi‖
(Biswas, 1992pp.202).

Controversy over Water Distribution of IRS Between Provinces

In 1921 when British rulers started developing irrigation system with construction of new
barrages, canals and dams. Government of India appointed various committees to resolve the
water issue between provinces. Following committees & commissions were set up for
distribution of the Waters of the IRS between provinces:
 Tripartite Agreement (1921)
 Indus Discharge Committee (1921)
 SVP Inquiry Committee (1932)
 Anderson Committee (1937)
 Rao Commission (1945)
 Indus Water Treaty (1960)
 Akhtar Hussain Committee (1968)
 Fazle-e-Akbar Committee (1970)
 Chief Justices Commission (1977)
 Haleem Commission (1983)

1. The Tripartite Agreement (1921)

The first contract between Punjab province, Bahawalpur and Bikaner States was signed in 1921.
It was for distribution of waters of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. Bahawalpur State protested against
the provision of water supplies to the non-riparian Bikaner State on the ground that the water was
insufficient to meet the needs of the two riparian Punjab and Bahawalpur State. The Government
of India convinced the Punjab, Bahawalpur and Bikaner States to sign the tripartite agreement.
The agreement was based on three widely recognized water-right principles as below:
A. Priority of existing use
B. Recognition of claims of riparian owners, and
C. Equitable apportionment regardless of history of use or of geographical location.

2. The Indus Discharge Committee (1921)

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Government of Bombay (Sindh was also part of Bombay presidency till 1935) objected to
Punjab’s proposals for new projects. States of Bahawalpur and Bikaner were also demanding for
more water provisions. Different claims from Punjab and Sindh were referred to the Secretary of
State London. He sanctioned construction of Sutlej Valley Project (SVP) and Sukkar Barrage
with seven canals. Decision on the other projects was postponed till after more reliable river flow
data was available (Federal Planning cell, 1990).
In response to petitions and counter claims by Sindh and Punjab, Government of India appointed
the ―Indus Discharge Committee‖ in 1921. The committee scheduled to observe daily discharge
at several sites on the rivers and canals in Indus Plains. To improve the availability of
hydrological data for these and other concerned projects, Government of India suggested to the
provincial government a comprehensive network of gauge and discharge observation sites at all
important sites along Indus and its tributaries. Arrangements were also made between Sindh and
Punjab to cooperate in discharge observations and in procedures of keeping their record. Sindh
was also allowed to appoint resident engineers to observer river and canal discharge in Punjab.

The committee recommended project of Haveli Canal and pointed out that future projects
proposed by Punjab should be considered by taking into account the possible effect on Sindh
water rights. A two member ‗Nicholson Trench Committee was appointed to study the
feasibility of Bhakra dam. In 1930, the committee in its report cleared Bhakra for construction.

3. SVP Inquiry Committee (1932)

Actual operations of SVP canals exposed that there was storage of supplies, especially in early
Kharif because actual river flows fell short of requirements. A committee was chosen in 1932 to
look into the problem. It recommended exclusion of some areas in Bahawalpur State,
construction of new feeder canals and adjustment in the command areas of certain canals
(Federal Planning cell, 1990).
4. Anderson Committee (1937)
By the 1932, all the 11 SVP canals with four barrages and Sukkar Barrage project were
completed. A number of problems arose with the operation of these canals network. Bahawalpur
and Khairpur States wanted extra supplies. Punjab also asked for extra water for Haveli project.
In 1935, Government of India formed ―Committee of the Central Board of Irrigation on
Distribution of Waters of the Indus and Tributaries‖, known as the ―Anderson Committee‖. It
comprised representatives of K.PK, Bikaner, Khairpur and Government of India. It had eight
authorities to look into the matter and find a solution. Committee submitted its report in 1937. Its
increased irrigation water supplies for Haveli and Thal projects. As regards Bhakra Dam, a
contract had already been reached between the governments of Bombay and Punjab in 1934. The
report cleared Haveli canal project which was started in 1934 and finished in 1939. Construction
of Kalabagh Barrage and Thal canal was started in 1939. But due to outbreak of World War II, it
was not commissioned till January, 1947.
5. Rao Commission (1945)

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After the implementation of Government of India Act 1935, the development of river waters
became a provincial matter. Provinces were allowed to plan and start any work for advancement
of river waters passing through its territory. The Governor-General could interfere only on
receiving complaint by one province in contradiction of the other. On receipt of complaint by
Government of Sindh against Punjab’s proposal for increased extractions of water from the
rivers passing through its region, Government of India appointed a Commission named ―Rao
Commission‖ in September 1941. The commission had two chief engineers namely ―P. B
Hickey‖ and ―E.H Chave‖ as its members. Terms of reference of the commission were to
―examine effects of water withdrawals on lowering of water levels in Sindh to result from
storing water in Bhakra Reservoir and from withdrawals allowed for Haveli, Thal and Sutlej
Valley Canals‖ (Malik,2011 pp. 70).
Rao Commission submitted report in July 1942. The commission established priority for the
water allocation for Paharpur canal and also confirmed allocations for the Thal and Sukkar
schemes as recommended by Anderson Committee. The commission found that upstream
extractions of water would harmfully affect operation of inundation canals in Sindh, especially
during September. The best way to counteract this effect was to build barrages at Guddu and
Kotri. The Commission also suggested that ―compensation should be paid to the Sindh from
Punjab province for damages likely to result from upstream withdrawals‖ (Malik, 2011, pp.70).
Its findings and recommendations were neither accepted by Punjab nor by Sindh. At this stage
negotiation were opened between the two chief engineers of Sindh and Punjab to find a solution
and reach on an agreement. After prolonged negotiations between Sindh and Punjab, a draft
agreement was drawn in September 1945. It was matter to settlement of the financial phase of
the dispute with respect to sharing of waters of the Indus and Punjab rivers.
6. Indus Water Treaty (1960)
On 14 August 1947, when Sub-Continent was divided into two independent countries, there
existed one of the most highly established irrigation systems in the world. The boundary line
between two countries was drawn without any consideration of irrigation work. Just after the
creation of Pakistan, India stopped water on April 1, 1948, in Pakistan Canals off-taking from
rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, who’s Headwork, were situated in India (Ali, 1973). This gave rise
to a serious first water dispute with India, which was ultimately resolved through the good
offices of the World Bank and Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed with India in 1960. The
Treaty gave exclusive water rights of the three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej to
India, while the water rights of the three western rivers namely; Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were
allotted to Pakistan except for some specified uses in the occupied State of Jammu & Kashmir.
Pakistan was required to meet the needs of eastern river canals from the western rivers by
constructing the suitable replacement works comprising storage dams and inter-river transfer
links. These works were to be completed by Pakistan in a period of ten years i.e., from 1960 to
1970, then after that period, India was given right to stop water flowing to Pakistan in the three
eastern rivers (Ghani, 2009). Briefly, the Indus Water treaty, having discarded the joint
development plan for developing the Indus Basin as suggested by some international bodies,
allotted the three western rivers of the Indus basin- the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum to
Pakistan and the three eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi to India. The Treaty in its Annexures

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acknowledged certain rights and privileges for agricultural use of Pakistan drawing water from
eastern rivers and similarly India drawing water for similar reasons from the three western rivers.
The treaty permitted India to draw water from the western rivers for irrigation up to 642,000
acres that is in addition to another entitlement to irrigate 701,000 acres. India has so far not made
full use of its rights to draw this quantity of water from the western rivers. These allocations
were made based on the water flows and usage as existed on April 1960. While India is not
permitted to build dams for water storage purposes (for consumptive uses) on the western rivers
passing through India, it is allowed to make limited use of waters including run of the river
hydroelectric power projects.

7. Akhtar Hussain Committee (1968)

A Water Allocation and Rates Committee were constituted by the Government of West Pakistan
(one unit) in May 1968. It was called ―Akhtar Hussain Committee‖ after the name of its
chairman (Government of the Punjab, 2002). Its terms of reference included:
 Review barrage water allocations.
 Reservoir release patterns.
 Drawdown levels and use of ground water in relation to surface water deliveries.

However, the committee submitted report on 30 June, 1970. One Unit was dissolved splitting
West Pakistan into four provinces. And this report could not attain any attention.
8. Justice Fazle Akbar Committee (1970-71)
Government of Pakistan set up a committee on October 15, 1970, chaired by former justice Fazle
Akbar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Committee was to recommend allotment of water
allocations of groundwater and its coordinate use with flow supplies and sensible water
requirements of the provinces for agriculture, industrial and other uses. The committee
submitted report to the government in 1971. No decision was taken on the report. In the
meanwhile, ad hoc distribution of waters stored by Chashma Barrage and later Tarbela Reservoir
was ordered among provinces. Seasonal ad hoc distribution of waters stored by two reservoirs
continued till coming into effect of Water Apportionment Accord in 1991 as noted presently.

9. Chief Justice’s Commission (1977)

Government of Pakistan in 1977 established a commission to observe the issue of water

apportionment. The commission contained all chief justices of the four provincial High Courts
and was chaired by the chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan. Its report however remained
pending with the government till the Water Apportionment Accord came into effect in 1991.

10. Haleem Commission (1983)

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This commission conducted the hearing of the case within limited framework and submitted report to
the president of Pakistan in the end of the April 1983 (Siddique, 2003). The issue of water
distribution could not be resolved and provinces received irrigation supplies through ad hoc
distribution of Indus waters notified by Federal Government for each period/season of the year.

11. Water Apportionment Accord (1991)

The government of Pakistan appreciating the urgency of the matter approved ―Water
Apportionment Accord‖ on March 16, 1991. It was approved by the Council of Common Interest
on March 21, 1991. According to the Water Apportionment Accord, share of each province, both
for Kharif and Rabi and allocation of balance supplies was allocated in MAF as given in Table 1.

The main clauses of Water apportionment Accord (1991) are given as follow:
 It supersedes all previous sharing arrangements and agreements arrived at in this regard.
 It protects the existing uses of canal water in each province.
 It apportions the balance river supplies including flood surpluses and future storage
amongst the provinces.
 It recognizes the need for constructing new storages wherever feasible on the Indus and
other rivers for planned future agriculture development.
 It also recognizes the need for certain minimum escapee to sea below Kotri to check sea
intrusion for which further studies are to be undertaken.
 It lays down the procedures for sharing shortage and surpluses on all Pakistan bases.
 The need to establish an Indus River System Authority for implementation of the Accord
was recognized and accepted. It would have representation from all the four Provinces.
 The balance river supplies including flood supplies and future storages are allocated as:
37% for Punjab, 37% for Sindh, 14% for K.PK and 12% for Baluchistan.

Conclusion

In short, we can say that Indus river system is the largest system of irrigation. It includes five
main rivers with their tributaries. It is the strong heart of the Pakistan’s economy. Its creation is a
tribute to the British irrigation engineers who created the original system (1847-1947) that
Pakistan inherited in 1947 and to the Pakistani irrigation engineers and institutions who
maintained the system. There were no disputes on the shearing of I.R.S water till 20th century,
however the situation changed after the World War-I. In-order to resolve these disputes several
commissions and committees were made as we discussed

Water shares of provinces according to water accord 1991

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References

 World Water Assessment Programme, ‖ The United Nations World Water Development
Report 3: Water in a Changing World, (Paris: UNESCO, and London ―Earthscan,
2009), p.29.
 M. Zeitoun and N. Mirumachi, "Trans boundary Water Interaction I: Reconsidering
Conflict and Cooperation", International Environmental Agreements, 8: 4, 2008, p. 298.
 Pacific Institute initiated a project in the late 1980s to track and categorize events related
to water and conflict which have been continuously updated ever since. See, Dr. Peter H.
Gleick, ―Water Conflict Chronology, ‖ Pacific Institute for Studies in Development,
Environment, and Security, 2009, at <http://www.worldwater.org/conflict/list/>.
 Economic Survey of Pakistan, 2009-10, op.cit. (ref.21), p.13.
 Ahmer Bilal Soofi, Dawn (Islamabad), February 20, 2010,
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newspaper/editorial/water-war-with-india-020
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